Hi guys,

I have a short announcement for you regarding this chapter and remainder of this fanfiction.

This is chapter eleven and the reason why this story is rated M. Don't worry, nothing too graphic. I tried to write a particular scene with Leliana and the Warden as tasteful as I was able.

I have already a rough draft of two remaining chapters. Chapter 12 will be the longest one in this story somewhere past three thousands words and posted probably on Monday after I polish it somehow.

On the other hand final chapter will be only around three hundred words. It will be hopefully some kind of a follow-up to the incoming game and most likely released on Tuesday.

Enjoy this chapter and feel free to leave a review. Thank you.

-ooo-

On the way to Haven after liberation of Redcliffe, the Warden Commander and the Inquisitor found themselves walking alongside each other. To Aria's surprise, the Warden initiated a talk. "Ferelden is secured and the united army of Ferelden should be able to hold borders against any potential invasion. The Inquisition must move to Skyhold soon."

"Aye, first task is done, an enormous challenge remains." The Inquisitor remarked and earned an appraising look from her companion.

The Warden stated seriously. "You have come a long way since our first meeting. Back then I saw just a spoiled noble brat…" He chuckled to himself.

That sounds familiar.

"…but now I see a fine woman who embraced her destiny and is ready to face challenges head on." He added in afterthought.

Aria's cheeks reddened slightly at an unexpected praise from her mentor.

"Many believe you are the Hand of the the Maker…" He continued pensively.

"What do you believe?" The Inquisitor couldn't stop herself and asked.

He continued in serious tone. "I do not know if you are the Herald of Andraste but that belief gives you power. In order to achieve victory and restore order, you must use it."

"I know. The world is tearing itself apart right now." She silently spoke.

"And you are the only one who can stop this. No pressure." He tried to lighten her mood.

"None taken." She smiled slightly enjoying very much this relaxed side of her mentor which she had never seen before. At least not directed at her.

"Now I shall take my leave before I will have to explain to Lady Guerrin why her favourite chinaware didn't survive our fight in the castle." It forced a hearty smile from Aria. He nodded slightly and headed to the back of convoy.

The Inquisitor was mulling over her conversation with the legendary Warden when the Nevarran Seeker caught up with her. "I see you have had a nice chat with our benefactor considering you are smiling."

Aria nodded. "He is special."

Cassandra smiled slightly. "I agree. You know I envy Leliana a little. Well…very much in fact." She listed his qualities.

Strong, yet tender.

Powerful, yet considerate.

Authoritative, yet sensitive.

Serious, yet funny.

Handsome, yet faithful.

"What more do you want from the man?" Cassandra rhetorically asked, her eyes softened when she was observing the man in question before them.

"Not yours, yet mine?" Aria teasingly asked before hopefully inquired. "Do you think the Champion of Kirkwall is single?"

Cassandra chuckled lightly shaking her head.

-ooo-

Leliana woke up the following day after the Inquisition forces had returned from the liberation of Redcliffe. She rested in bed in her small apartment in Haven. Orlesian beauty lay naked wearing only an ornate silver amulet in the shape of a sword around her neck and her engagement bracelet on her wrist. Both jewels were gifts from a very special man who was currently sleeping next to her. She turned on her side to get a better look at the handsome companion who was peacefully breathing and resting with his arm around her.

I don't know what he did with me in Redcliffe but every scar I had is gone.

He loved them as every part of me but I am feeling much better without them.

Leliana was watching him fondly and started caressing lovingly his abdomen in slow circles.

He was so patient with me. It was driving me mad.

First when I was recovering from my injuries and then when he explained to me why he had left.

In the end I had to force him.

He is worth it.

For the first time in years they had been intimate. When they had returned from Redcliffe she had pulled him into her room. He had tried to resist her but she had been extremely persuasive.

Forces of the Inquisition finally arrived in Haven. They had separated and said goodbye with their elven, dwarven and human allies in Redcliffe. Despite tired and battered, troops were in high spirits thanks to a great success in south-west part of Ferelden. Rest was in order. The Inquisitor wanted to discuss some matters with the Warden but before she could catch his attention, Leliana beat her to it and disappeared with him in the temple.

The Warden was surprised when Leliana drew his attention with a small smile and grabbed his hand forcing him to follow. He stopped her at the door to her quarters and she turned around to face him.

"Lily?" He softly asked while attentively studying her expression.

"I won't be denied again." She growled and attacked him like a tigress. She pressed her lips to his and locked him in a passionate kiss. She was absolutely giddy before her beloved slowly pulled away.

"What are you doing?" Orlesian demanded wildly whilst trying to lock their lips together again.

The Warden resisted and whispered almost too silently for her to hear while gently caressing her left cheek. "Lily, are you sure? After everything I have done…" His voice trailed off to silence.

She embraced him firmly and rested her forehead against his. Leliana whispered lovingly. "I love you and I always will." She softly kissed his lips and continued. "After everything you have done? The way I see it, you sacrificed yourself to protect me. I admit, I was angry and heartbroken when you left, but it was because I didn't know reasons. I thought you were fed up with me."

He interrupted her. "How could you think that? You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I love you. You mean the world to me."

Her cheeks moistened with her tears at his words but she steeled herself and explained.

"Now I see what you went through for me. I feel our bond more stronger than ever. I am grateful to the Maker that I have found you and that you have showed me your love. The purest form of love - to sacrifice yourself for the one you love."

The Warden gently wiped her tears with thumbs as he was silently listening her confession. Leliana was silent for a moment while staring into his captivating eyes. She composed herself somewhat and whispered. "I have been waiting so long for you. I want you."

That was all it took for the Warden to make a decision. He delicately lifted her into his arms and carried her to a small apartment. He lowered her on the bed and leaned over her. Slowly caressing her moist cheek, he breathed to her ear."I will make it worthwhile for you."

A gorgeous woman beneath him shuddered in anticipation. Her dearest one was after so long finally back with her. The Warden started sensually kissing her lips while fondling her body through the armor. He carefully caught her lower lip between his, slowly sucking on it and lightly massaging it with his tongue.

He was leisurely unbuckling clasps of her armor parts while continuing his ministrations. He finally got rid off her attire and before him a naked beauty was lying on the bed. Her cheeks reddened brightly when she opened her eyes and noticed his gaze. The Warden noted that blush didn't stop at her face but formed light shades of red on her neck and bosom. It made her even more ravishing.

She tried to sit up and help him with his armor, but was stopped with a soft kiss on her neck that made her relax. The Warden expertly discarded his own armor and remained only in a body-fitting short-sleeved black shirt and pants before he returned his attention to her.

Leliana was moaning quietly when he captured her mouth again while slowly fondling her body without any obstacles in his way. Her paramour was affectionately trailing small kisses alongside her jaw slowly making his way to her right ear where he whispered."I love you, Lily." Sucking her earlobe gently while his right hand was massaging her left breast.

Leliana was in a bliss when her lover continued to pleasure her on the way to his goal. Her jaw. Her collarbone. Her breasts. Her tummy. Even her belly button. Not a single one of her sensitive areas were left out.

When he reached his destination, he was teasing her slightly pleasuring her everywhere except the spot she desired the most. She was breathing heavily in an anticipation of his next actions.

Then he focused on her core and she was crying in ecstasy. He was relentless in his ministrations. Her body was shaking with pleasure and her mind almost exploded when her paramour used a magical trick with his tongue stimulating the most sensitive nerves in her body. That sent her over the edge.

Leliana was shaking uncontrollably, pleasure overriding every one of her senses. Her body was trembling slightly when her lover was keeping up his effort to prolong her delight. There was only one thing on her mind. Hapiness, joy and absolute bliss to be with her beloved again, to share herself completely with him.

Suppressed frustration from years when she was alone…vanished.

Bond between lovers...forged an unbreakable link.

Declaration of his love…chased away her fear.

Forgiveness and reunion…mended her heart.

Intimacy…showed his love for her.

She was slowly stroking his hair for a moment, before she prompted him to join her face to face again.

He smiled gently at her and gave her a deep kiss. After that Leliana murmured.

"I love you too."

He settled comfortably next to her while she wrapped her arms around his neck holding him closely to feel a beating of his heart again, to feel safe again. After that she slowly drifted off to her sleep while he was caressing her tenderly.

Leliana was distracted from her rumination when she felt a small movement next to her. The man in question fidgeted a little in his sleep and instinctively drew himself up closer to her while murmuring something dangerously close to "No Allistair. You will not cook ever again." That elicited a small smile from redhead next to him as she continued stroking his muscular frame.

He is so selfless.

When I confronted him after our return from Redcliffe, demanded from him to fulfill my desire, he stopped me trying not to hurt my feelings.

And even after we reaffirmed our feelings for each other, he provided me everything I lusted for and asked nothing in return.

Leliana broke her day dreaming when her eyes focused on his wrist, more specifically on a twin of her engagement bracelet that was located there. These bracelets had been made by the most renowned jeweller in Orzammar for an exorbitant sum. Sandal than ingrated to them the most powerful runes. Jewell worthy of a few hundred sovereigns.

This bracelet is priceless to me in what it represents.

Bond to the man I love.

The Warden had gifted one of them to her when they had decided to pursue their relationship seriously.

Gift for any Princess or Queen rather than me.

Though he always said I was his Princess Warrior.

However it was not the bracelet that caught her attention. It was a tiny pouch that sticked out from a cavity in his jewel which was concealed with ingenious sliding mechanism. She only noticed that because the secret stash wasn't shut properly.

Leliana reached to his wrist and cautiously extracted a velvet pouch. She curiously squeezed it and frowned when she realized it was empty. She untied a red string around the pouch and peeked inside. Initially she didn't see anything inside.

Wait a second. What is this?A vestige of some silver ash?

Unless…

Leliana petrified with fear when she comprehended what she was holding in her hand. She looked at her lover and was startled realizing she was being watched by a pair of deep brown eyes intently.

The Warden leaned closer, before redhead could question him, and gave her a toe-curling kiss that blanked her mind for a moment. They separated slowly when a need for oxygen overhelmed their desire for each other. Her beloved smiled at her when he noticed her dazed look and slowly stroked her side reassuringly.

He whispered to her. "Good morning, my love."

"I…" Leliana was trying to compose herself but it was so damn difficult when her heart's desire was finally with her and on top of it so close to her. She couldn't focus when he was petting her right tigh and hip and leaned to kiss her again.

"Please, wait…" Leliana struggled to restrain her lust for him. When he heard her plea, he immediately stopped. She couldn't decide whether to be angry at him or not that he respected her wish.

"Your desire?" The Warden slightly smirked seeing a look of indecisiveness on her face and teased her slightly with his question. He knew exactly what she would associate it with.

Leliana took a calming breath, she didn't trust her voice right now and instead she raised slowly a hand, in which she was holding a velvet pouch. His eyes immediately darkened when he saw what was in her slender palm. The Warden checked up his bracelet and closed its sliding part violently.

"Is it…" Leliana was interrupted when he responded. "Yes."

"You have Sacred Ashes of Andraste?" Leliana couldn't believe it, she thought that they had been used to cure Arl in Redcliffe during the Blight.

"I had. I had to use them." The Warden vaguely explained.

"But why did you have them in the first place?" Leliana demanded sharply.

Her lover fidgeted uncomfortably and sighted, before calmly explained. "It was my insurance."

"Against what?" Leliana confusedly inquired.

The Warden looked into her eyes and explained. "Against the taint. It was my chance to get rid off it with a healing power of ashes. I have provided a small pinch of it to Allistair as well."

Leliana nodded in understanding. Her beloved had explained her a long time ago the curse, which the Wardens took upon themselves to combat the darkspawn. He would use the Ashes and they would be together without her fear of losing him to the Calling in Deep Roads.

Except he doesn't have the Sacred Ashes anymore.

Wait. He said he has already used them.

"Then you are free. You are cured. It worked, right?" She asked hopefully.

When the Warden's left eye twitched slightly and he bit his lip violently, her sense of foreboding rocketed sky-high. He unclearly answered. "Not exactly."

"What does it mean?" She softly touched his cheek.

"It means I had to use it on something much more important than me." He retorted.

"Nothing is more important than you." She was caressing his cheek blinking back her tears.

His expression softened at her reaction and he declared resolutely. "You are."

"What?" A confused query came from the beauty next to him.

"When I got to the castle in Redcliffe and slaughtered my way through the Venatori and demons, I found you lying on the floor. You weren't breathing. I tried my most powerful healing spells but I wasn't able to revive you." The Warden was looking at her when she realized a true meaning behind his words.

"You… You used the Sacred Ashes of Andraste to resuscitate me. You used your only hope for getting rid of a taint to save me. You…" Her eyes filled with tears, she started sobbing uncontrollably into his chest and her beloved gently put his arms around her.

The Warden was soothing her, delicately stroking her hair, while she was crying in grief. Then he grabbed her chin and forced her gently to look into his eyes. "Lily, I would do anything for you and if that means to end my life in Deep Roads... then so be it. I would gladly make that sacrifice to experience one more day with you."

Leliana wrapped her hands around his neck and fiercely started kissing him with desperate abandon. When they parted, she was murmuring again and again. "My dearest one, I love you."

He softly smiled at her and drew her closer. She settled on the bed next to him. She lay on her side, her head resting on his shoulder, her arm draped over his chest, her right leg enlaced around his own. His right arm was wraped around her shoulders holding her closely in embrace.

She felt protected and loved in his arms and fell asleep, exhausted from a strenuous emotional experience she just endured.

-ooo-